Have you ever been to Colorado? Our family just returned from there. We spent 9 wonderful days in the state of Colorado, most of which was spent at Black Mountain Ranch. It was beautiful and God spoke to me a lot while I was there. I am sure you’ll be hearing about it this week.
Each day we would get on our horses and ride for hours on trails all around Black Mountain. It was beautiful and so relaxing, except when I felt like my horse was controlling me instead of me controlling my horse. As we rode, we noticed a lot of the pine trees were dead. Our wrangler, Amanda, explained that the pine beetle had infested the trees killing many of them. They had to get the dead trees taken down because it was a huge fire hazard to have that much fuel for fire sitting there waiting for something to happen. The ranch owner said with that much dead pine present, it wasn’t a matter of if a fire would happen, but when it would happen. The wood had to be taken out of the forest as quickly as possible.
I couldn’t help but think we all are similar to the forest on Black Mountain. When we have had sin infest an area of our lives, it brings death to that area. We need to get rid of it before it consumes us completely. If sin is left in our lives we’re faced with the same scenario as the forest. It isn’t a matter of if it will destroy us but a matter of when it will destroy us.
1 John 1:9 says “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” When sin comes into our lives, we must confess it before it catches like a wildfire and destroys us [John 5:14]. This is God’s plan for reconciliation. We must trust in the Lord and His ways.
God works everything for good [Romans 8:28]. Another wrangler, Dan, told us as the pines die off the Aspens will begin to populate in their place and the mountain will be covered with trees and thrive once more. Everyone will be blessed by the beautiful groves of Aspens across Black Mountain. When our lives are free from sin, we will also thrive and bless others around us.
Take some time today to sit with the Lord and allow Him to point out any dead areas in your life that need to be removed. Confess them immediately and see what happens. You will be blessed by what He fills those spaces with and so will those around you.